By Betty Luke
Over 200 needy learners have benefited from Sh1.4 million bursaries aimed at promoting transition, enrolment and eradicating illiteracy in the region.
Among the beneficiaries of the support, courtesy of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), are two Bulampya Secondary School learners who had dropped out of school for lack of fees.
Mr Jibril Gollo and Jane Ashangai in form four and two respectively, could not hide their joy as they received Sh30, 000 and Sh15, 000 cheques.
It is during Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya last year’s visit of the school when the management requested for financial support to sustain the two bright learners in school.
Mr Gollo received a scholarship of Sh30,000 to fully cater for his last year in school.
“We have ensured that the young man will never be sent home again so that he focuses on his examination,” Ms Bonaya’s office manager Mohammed Golompo said while issuing out the cheque.
The officer appealed to Ms Ashangai’s school management not to send her home, promising to consider her in subsequent disbursements.
“Her school fees arrears have been cleared and we will consider her while issuing subsequent bursaries to ensure she stays in school,” he assured.
Others who benefited from the initiative were seven learners living with disability, three of who are University students.
County PWD Chairperson Abdi Waqo hailed the support and called for more assistance to ensure other needy learners benefit.
“We appreciate the effort to consider persons living with disabilities as in most times, they are usually left out. This is a reminder that children with disabilities also have the capability to learn and change the situation back at their homes and impact the entire society,” he said.
Mr Wako called on guardians, parents and caregivers raising children with disabilities to enrol them to school, saying they too had a right to education.
Eighteen (18) women groups from Burat and Ngaremara wards also received Sh100,000 cheques each to support their activities for improved livelihoods.
Burat Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) President Consolata Lomilio said the fund will greatly boost their business ventures as majority had lost livestock during the prolonged drought, impoverishing them.
“The money received will greatly support our bid to diversify livelihood as pastoralism has proven unreliable due to the changing weather patterns,” said Ms Lomilio.
